Sweet Christmas Kisses (First Edition): Fourteen Sweet Christmas Romances

by Donna Fasano

USA Today Bestseller!

This holiday season, warm your heart with 14 Sweet Christmas Kisses, a bundle of PG-rated romance novels and novellas from USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.

Sweet Christmas Kisses takes you from small-town USA to England, Scotland, and even Ecuador; from the beach to snow-capped mountains, and to the wild--sometimes magical--west. The Sweet Christmas Kisses bundle will bring you laughter, tears, and always joy, for more than 1600 pages. Foreword by New York Times bestselling author, Brenda Novak.

Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano, USA Today bestselling author. Aaron wants to give his daughter a perfect Christmas and elicits Christy's help to do it. When they're talked into a make-believe wedding, can a real one be far behind?

Mistletoe in Maine (Holiday Brides Book #3) by Ginny Baird, Award-winning and National bestselling author. A single mom takes her kids on vacation in Maine and meets a handsome innkeeper, a young widower with a teenage son. A winter wonderland love story about faith and new beginnings.

The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby (Army Doctor's Baby Series) by Helen Scott Taylor, Award-winning and National bestselling author. An army surgeon with twins falls for the nanny, but will her secret destroy their happiness?

Stormy Times by Beate Boeker. International author. A rock star, vet, and puppy meet in a blizzard and sparks fly...

The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis, USA Today Recommended Read, Award-winning and National bestselling author. When a chocolate heiress bumps into a wounded warrior during Christmas, chaos ensues thanks in part to three fairy godmothers...er, a trio of meddlesome nuns.

Merry Christmas, Darling by Denise Devine, Award-winning author. A desperate bachelor enlists his neighbor to pose as his wife to appease his dying mother and unexpectedly finds love under the mistletoe.

Some Christmas Magic by Raine English, Award-winning and National bestselling author. She's been dumped... He wants to win her back... A last-ditch effort to save her Christmas might result in her most romantic holiday ever.

Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish, National bestselling author. Forced to face his past, a young widower tries to grant the Christmas wish of his first love.

Lucky Break Christmas: Homecoming by Patricia Forsythe, Award-winning author. Their marriage is in trouble...until a judge, two kids, a quirky hometown of old friends, and the Christmas spirit of forgiveness step in.

Beach Christmas by Grace Greene, Award-winning and National bestselling author. Jessie Dawson hopes to arrange the perfect beach Christmas for her family, but when it all falls apart a special delivery from the past may inspire a new Christmas wish.

Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk, Award-winning and National bestselling author. The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the Christmas wedding is off, but the would-be honeymoon cruise may offer Julia a dream companion.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Anthologies, Holiday, Ebooks, Amazon

2030 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

Growing up the third child of five—yes, smack dab in the middle and the only girl to boot—Donna Fasano had no idea she would one day be a published author. Her story-telling talents came to light when she conjured lively and elaborate tales of pure blarney (yes, she has a bit of Irish in her blood) for her children.

Donna is a USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels. Be sure to follow her on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna...

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas Kisses: Fourteen Sweet Christmas Romances is a amazing collection from a terrific group of authors.

'Mistletoe In Maine' by Ginny Baird is a sweet Christmas story. A divorced mother takes her two kids to a Inn in Maine for Christmas. See what happens when you believe in Christmas magic.... :) I really enjoyed this story and the characters.

'The Christmas Promise' by Melinda Curtis is a great story! Tiffany 'Tiff' is a chocolate heiress in the jungle of Ecuador trying to save her family business and runs into Jax, a wounded warrior right at Christmas time. Hilarity and chaos soon ensues with the help of the three elderly meddlesome nuns Tiff is staying with. I loved this story! This is a excellent first installment to Melinda's new series (The Bridesmaids). I can't wait to see what happens next in this series!

I'm looking forward to reading all the other stories also included in this amazing collection!

[Alyssa]

Just received my e-ARC copy of the entire collection for review! I'm so excited to dive into Christmas tales!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good collection of Christmas stories. Here are a few of some of the ones you will get to read,

In An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano a man who has been caring for his terminally ill daughter wants to give her a wonderful last Christmas. He enlists help from a nurse at the hospital where his daughter has been receiving treatment. Together they work to make her last Christmas one of the best! Grab your tissues! It's a great story that will definitely bring a tear to your eye!

In Mistle Toe in MIne by Ginny Baird a divorced mom of two decides to take her kids to Maine for Christmas. She is struggling to heal from a divorce and wants to once to bring some joy to her life and the life of her kids. She and the kids book their stay in Maine and meet the inn's owner and teenage son not realizing their lives will all be changed. This is a sweet read that helps two people move on in their lives with a lot of love and a magical Christmas moose.

In The Doctor's Christmas Baby by Helen Scott Taylor is the story of a nurse who for years loved her best friend until one night she meets a handsome surgeon who is the father of adorable twin girls. While helping care for the twins love blooms but she has a secret that could change everything. This is a sweet love story that reminds us with true love all things are possible.

Stormy Times by Beate Bocker

A veterinarian is rescued during a winter storm by an unwilling rescuer. Her rescuer just wants privacy from his celebrity life. All she wants to do is keep her vet office going. But what they get surprises both of them.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't find an individual entry for The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis so had to use this entry.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Christmas (Covington Falls Chronicles, Book 4) by Kristin Wallace

My review is for BY CHRISTMAS (Covington Falls Chronicles, Book 4) by Kristin Wallace. Kristin's series of Covington Falls Chronicles stories weave around a fictional small town and the people who live there. She does not disappoint in her Christmas story. My heart was breaking for the pain Noelle has lived with, being left at the altar by her fiancé and maid of honor. Living in a fog and the whispers in the town, because in a small town, everyone knows and talks. Noelle has to deal with her personal heart ache and then nearly losing her father, having to step up to the plate after his heart attack. But no matter what life throws at you, God is always there, he never leaves us. I don't tear up easily, yet there was three times reading this story, the emotions were so real that I actually had tears and raw emotions. This is not a "preachy" story, it is about LIFE, love lost, heartache, betrayal, daily pain, forgiveness, redemption, healing and finding true love.

I plan on reading all of the 14 books in this set, so many wonderful authors coming together to create this Box Set.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas is a great collection of good clean contemporary stories set at Christmas. The stories include: An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano, Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird, The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby by Helen Scott Taylor, Stormy Times by Beate Boeker, The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis, Merry Christmas darling by Denise Annette Devine, Some Christmas Magic by Raine English, Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish, Lucky Break Christmas: Homecoming by Patricia Forsythe, Beach Christmas by Grace Greene, Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk, A Scottish Christmas by Roxanne Rustand, Small Town Christmas by Magdalina Scott, and By Christmas: Covington Falls Chronicles by Kristin Wallace.
I enjoyed every single one of the stories especially: An Almost Perfect Christmas, The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby, and The Christmas Promise.

I recommend this collection for all of your Christmas season reading.

[Tama · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been reading these stories for 9 months. Think I picked them up as one of Amazon's free or low cost books over the holidays. The stories were a bit longer than I expected. In most, the writing level was marginal. Do real women really spend years of their lives unhappy because of something that happened in high school? I hop not. The one story about the Scottish Christmas was probably the beet developed story and the only author Inwould seek again. But,hey, they are Christmas stories and all have happy endings.

[Deanna Vrba · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Promise By Melinda Curtis.

Tiff was from New York and went on to the Ecuador rainforest and found love with Jackson hardaway who got hurt and had to stay at the convent and had to marry Tiff to stay there. but she and Jackson found love over came a lot of obstacle He had tried to avoid love in the past and Tiff ran away from her fiancée.. and tiff and Jackson found love during their time to together in rainforest

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a little Christmas romance??? How about 14 stories of romance during the holidays??? Each author brings their own gift of story telling in this great anthology. For the price of one book, you can get stories from some wonderful romance authors in one collection. Celebrate the holidays curled up with hot cocoa and a blazing fire, and fall in love with your favorite couple. There is a story for everyone to enjoy, or you can be like me and love them all!!!

[Barbara Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

I loved this series of stories. The authors all wrote wonderful stories. I can not wait to start reading other books by these very talented authors. I have read some of these authors books so I knew they would be great reading. The authors that I hadn't read anything they have written surprised me with their talent. Thank you for picking such talented writers to make this book.

[Nenette · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a deluge of wholesome romantic stories with a Christmas theme, then this book is for you. All of the stories were good...just some grammatical and typo errors here and there. I have even bought or placed orders for next-in-the-series books of some of the featured stories.

We had a long Christmas holiday and this book was a perfect companion.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with any compilation, some were great, some weren't, but unfortunately those that weren't good were terrible. Names would change through the story showing the author wasn't invested in the story enough to even remember the characters names! Bad grammar, inconsistency, and non-existent editing always annoy me.

[Susan M Sorensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light reading with Christmas themes.

Gave this collection 2 stars as some of the stories were light on the storyline and didn't have a lot of the Christmas magic l enjoy for this type of story. Also some of the endings were very abrupt.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With 14 novels/novellas this one could take me all the way to Christmas!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a FANTASIC anthology packed full of wonderful sweet romance reads. There are 14 different stories in this anthology and I loved each one for their own unique stories & characters. This anthology is a great deal at the full price of $6.99, but it’s just a downright STEAL at $0.99. I cannot recommend this anthology enough. It is sure to offer you several days of entertainment and engaging reads. I’ve written reviews on each of the 14 stories below, so if you want more details on each story, read on.

ALMOST PERFECT CHRISTMAS: Donna Fasano
Christy is an oncology nurse who works hard and loves her patients. Aaron is the father of 8-year old Izzy who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Aaron wants this Christmas to be the best Christmas every for Izzy since it may be her last, which means he’s acquiescing to all her requests. One of those requests is that Aaron find a woman to be a pretend wife and mother for their family over Christmas. Christy offers her services and adventures soon follow, including a pretend wedding. As Christy comes to genuinely care for Aaron and Izzy she starts to wonder if their pretend family could be more than pretend.

This was such a great story! The way the author tells the story of parents who have lost their children or who are afraid they’ll lose their children is so believable. There is so much love and feeling in this book. It’s genuine, heart-breaking, AND heartwarming all at the same time. I found myself tearing up several times throughout this book because of the fantastic storytelling. I’m afraid to say too much more for fear that I might give away spoilers, but this story was truly great. The bonds that form and the love that is shared throughout this book make it such an engaging story that will keep you hooked until the fantastic end.

MISTLETOE IN MAINE: Ginny Baird
Carol is a single mom with 2 kids and is living on a tight budget after her husband decided to leave her for someone much younger. On a whim, she decides to give her kids a vacation that they won’t forget (and can’t afford). Carol is pleasantly surprised to find that the innkeeper, Paul, is not only extremely handsome, he’s also extremely single. Are Carol’s developing feelings one-sided or does Paul have feelings for her? And is there any chance for them since they live several states apart?

This was a sweet, heart-warming story that I finished super fast! I love that it was about finding love in unlikely circumstances and the side characters in the book added a lot to the story as well. I loved that 2 people who certainly deserved a second chance at love got it and that it blended 2 families. It was a well-written, quick read with a sweet story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

THE ARMY DOCTOR’S CHRISTMAS BABY: Helen Scott Taylor
Sean is a surgeon in the army who works long hours in a high stress Job. He also has 2 young twin daughters and happens to be quite a catch. Kelly is just finishing her career as an army nurse and is looking forward to working with children overseas. The two meet through mutual friends and Kelly ends up being a temporary nanny for Sean’s girls before she leaves the country. There’s definitely chemistry between the two, but neither one is really looking for something serious. Should they pursue a romantic relationship and see where it can go? Or should they just stick to their original plan and go their separate ways?

This was a lovely, heartwarming story about 2 lonely people who love children. The characters definitely had chemistry and they share a lot of love for the adorable twin girls. They’ve both dealt with heartbreak in the past, leaving Sean unwilling to trust women and Kelly desperately wanting a family of her own, but not being sure she’ll ever have it. The plot sounded very interesting to me when I read the description and the book did not disappoint. I was hooked right from the beginning and enjoyed following this story along to the end. It was truly a great story that will warm your heart and leave you very satisfied when you’re finished with it.

STORMY TIMES: Beate Boeker
Joanna is the town veterinarian and gets stranded in a terrible blizzard one night after leaving an emergency. After fearing for her life, she lands on the doorstep of an attractive, but incredibly rude stranger. Conran reluctantly lets the half-frozen Joanna in and begrudgingly helps her. Unfortunately, this isn’t the last time that Joanna sees this rude stranger. However, he appears to be the least of her troubles. Can Joanna break through Conran’s prickly demeanor? Will she find out why her veterinary practice seems to be dying so quickly? Will she be able to save her practice and get a second chance at love?

This book was different from the others because it actually starts off tense with Joanna being stranded in the blizzard and fighting for her life. It’s also tense because of Conran’s behavior. He’s not a very likeable character at first and like, Joanna, I started to wonder if maybe he was crazy! However, after learning more about his history with people, women especially, it explains a lot and is understandable why he misinterprets Joanna’s intentions. He definitely ends up redeeming himself in the story. This was an engaging book with a little bit of mystery to it that added to the fun! It was a fun read that had a great ending that wrapped everything up nicely. I really enjoyed this book!

THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE: Melinda Curtis
Tess and Jax couldn’t be more different from each other. She’s a rich socialite who also happens to be the heiress to her family’s chocolate empire. He’s a wounded veteran suffering from PTSD, just trying to find his place in the world again. They meet in the jungles of Ecuador during a terrible rainstorm and the adventures continue from there. Tess falls in love quickly so she starts to question the budding feelings she has for Jax. Is it real or is her heart playing tricks on her? And does he even reciprocate her feelings?

This story was full of adventure, not to mention enormous critters like bugs, spiders, and snakes that made for some really funny scenarios! This book was a really quick read and was over WAY too fast. I thought it was a great story of 2 opposites becoming attracted to each other and all that entails. The setting of being in a 3rd world country with 3 scheming nuns playing matchmaker also added to the adventure. It was a really fun book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING: Denise Devine

Rock Henderson decides to enlist the help of his neighbor, Kim Stratton to be his pretend wife so that his ailing mother can die peacefully knowing her son is settling down. Kim reluctantly agrees, on the condition that she can have Rock’s help when she needs it. While Rock is sexy, rich, and a ladies’ man, Kim is a hard-working nurse practitioner that has no desire to pursue a relationship with anybody except her beloved Chihuahua, Sasha. Needless to say, many wacky adventures follow. And when the tables are turned, Rock and Kim are in for a BIG surprise.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really like this author and I thought the story was great. It also has a twist that I didn’t see coming which was really fun. I loved Rock and Kim together because they had tons of chemistry & very likeable personalities. I was totally hooked throughout the duration of the story and was not disappointed with the ending at all. I think it’s a really fun plot that was so entertaining and I couldn’t wait to see where it was going next. This really was a great book and one of my favorites of the entire anthology.

SOME CHRISTMAS MAGIC: Raine English
Harper’s boyfriend breaks up with her right before Christmas, leaving her with a non-refundable all-expenses paid ski trip she was going to give him as a gift. While trying to decide whether to go on the vacation or not, Harper’s best friend suggests she take Cole, her childhood sweetheart that that broke her heart. The two have remained friendly over the years, but can Cole & Harper let go of the past and forgive themselves and each other so that they can move on? Is there any chance for them to rekindle their old romance?

This was a fun story about misunderstandings, miscommunication, and second chances. Since their teenage years, Cole & Harper have just been settling in their relationships, never finding “the one”. It was fun to watch their relationship go from somewhat awkward to possibly becoming something more. I also really enjoyed finding out what happened in their past. I love stories about first loves and this one definitely did not disappoint. This was another great book in the anthology.

CHRISTMAS IN WHITE OAK: Aileen Fish
Normally, Nick just drops his 4-year old daughter off with his mother in his home town over the holidays. However, this year, his daughter and his mother talked him into staying as well. Needless to say, this was not what Nick had in mind since he has demons from his past that he can’t seem to escape. Nick must learn to forgive himself and deal with his past in order to move forward with a future. That future may just include the lovely Sofia, whom he secretly loved as a teenager.

This was another great story about past mistakes and regrets and deciding whether or not to embrace them and move on. I loved the back story in this book, which tells us why Nick struggles so much with being in his hometown. It’s a story about first loves, which I also really enjoyed. I liked reading about Nick’s struggle to let go and forgive regarding his past because I think that’s so relatable. Who doesn’t have something they regret about their past? I really enjoyed this heart-warming story and feel it’s a great addition to this anthology.

LUCKY BREAK CHRISTMAS: HOMECOMING: Patricia Forsythe
Jim and Cecelia’s marriage has fallen apart. They’ve drifted apart and built up so many walls that they just can’t reach each other anymore. So when the judge denies their divorce they’re at a loss of what to do. It’s the first of a series of events that causes them to re-examine their marriage, themselves, and what’s best for their children. Will they be able to proceed with the judge’s instructions in a civil manner towards each other? Will Jim’s heartbreaking past get in the way of true healing for this family?

Oh, this was SUCH a great story! I loved it. I loved that the judge decided to do what was best for the children, rather than what the parents thought that they wanted. I love how it follows the story of Jim’s past and how he’s never truly gotten over it and how it has caused walls in all his relationships. I love the transformation of a broken relationship that seemingly has no hope. It is another heartwarming story that is all about a broken family that just may be able to find healing.

BEACH CHRISTMAS: Grace Greene
After the death of her father, Jess Dawson does her best to keep the family traditions and holidays as close to normal as possible. However, little does she know, her tendencies to control situations are causing strain between her and her other family members. So when she decides to plan a Christmas trip for the whole family to the beach house they used to visit when they were kids, she thinks it’s a great opportunity for an amazing family Christmas and to honor her father’s memory. However, things definitely don’t go as planned when unexpected events and illness prevent others from joining her. It looks like this might be the worst Christmas ever, until unexpected surprises and changes in attitudes make it one of the most memorable Christmases instead.

This book had a different tone than the rest of the books in that it was more low-key and focused a lot on familial relationships. However, it’s also what made this book so great. It was completely relatable with the family dynamics and relationships. I could see a lot of these situations happening in my own family with my siblings. There was also a lovely, unexpected twist in the book that I totally did not see coming but I loved, loved, loved! It was a genuine, heart-warming read that had me hooked until the very end and I hated to see it end so quickly.

HER CHRISTMAS CRUISE: Mona Risk
After discovering her doctor fiancé cheating on her, Julia decides to go on a cruise. However, she won’t be going alone. She has persuaded the hunky man working at the travel agency to accompany her. Little does she know that Tony is more than just a part-time travel agent. He’s also a psychiatrist! Tony decides to omit this personal piece of information since Julia has declared her hatred for all doctors and he’d pretty much do anything to keep her around. What will Julia think when she finds out the kind, caring man who’s been her traveling companion and friend for several days is actually a psychiatrist?

This was a REALLY engaging book with great writing and a fun plot. I loved the characters. Julia is an innocent, sweet, beautiful woman and Tony is a sexy, smart, gentlemanly psychiatrist who loves helping people. He also loves Julia! It was a super quick read that was over much too soon in my opinion. I was engaged from the very first page and stayed hooked until the end. I will definitely be reading more by this author since this was one of my favorites!

A SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS: Roxanne Rustand
Lucy receives notice that an aunt that she never knew existed has named her heir in her will. But in order to claim her inheritance, Lucy must go to Scotland herself to claim it. While there, Lucy discovers so much more than she ever thought possible about her family. Since her mother refused to talk about any other family members at all, Lucy assumed that there was no one else. Several surprises are in store for Lucy, including the handsome professor who rents the cottage behind the B & B that her aunt left in Lucy’s name.

Oh, to be able to travel to a foreign land and uncover your family’s history! That’s exactly what Lucy does in this book and I have to say that I might be more than a little bit jealous of her. I loved the setting of being in a Bed & Breakfast in Scotland. The secrets that Lucy uncovers were a nice twist to the story and I loved the chemistry between Brodie (the professor) & Lucy. This was a great book with a fun plot, nice twists, and an ending that I loved. This book had me engaged to the very end and I’m so glad it was a part of this anthology!

SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS: Magdalena Scott
Melissa leaves her hometown pretty much as soon as she graduates. Years later, she has her degree, a successful career, and a young son. What more could she want? She thought she’d never go back to her hometown, the place where the love of her life dumped her for no reason. She was wrong. Now, she’s moving back to Serendipity with her son for a fresh start. Melissa will have to confront her past (and her ex) in order to move on with her life and there are more than a few surprises in store for her.

This was a fun story with a few great surprises in it that I totally didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the story of Melissa and her past and how instead of letting it get her down, she used it to help her make something of her life. I love the idea of her returning to her hometown to face her past and her ex. There’s a complicated history there that we don’t figure out until a good way into the book, so there’s definitely some anticipation while reading this story as well. My favorite part was probably the ending. I loved what the author did there and thought it was such a sweet way to end the book.

BY CHRISTMAS: COVINGTON FALLS CHRONICLE: Kristin Wallace
Noelle has been living with the embarrassment of being dumped at the altar for a year and a half now. She lives in the small town of Covington Falls, where everybody knows everybody and everything that goes on. She’s had it with all the pity and the constant reminders of her failure in the romance department. She’s made a plan and decided to finally leave Covington Falls when her father suddenly has a heart attack, putting all her plans on hold so she can fill in for her father and bring Christmas to Covington Falls. Meanwhile, she’s been befriending the brother of her ex-fiance who has also had issues in the romance department since his wife left him. There’s no doubt there’s chemistry between Noelle and Michael, but can either one of them learn to trust again? Could this be more than a rebound tryst? Can they move past all the difficulties involving their families?

After reading the description for this book I was intrigued by the story line and this book definitely did not disappoint. Although grieving the loss of her relationship, Noelle still decides to step up and accomplish something great for the town. And because Michael feels guilty for what his brother did and possibly his own hand in it, he decides to be Noelle’s knight in shining armor. I loved the chemistry between the two characters and both were really likeable, especially Michael. This was a really fun story that also showed the different family dynamics and how family can affect our decisions we make, right or wrong. It was also completely relatable with the bossy older sister, flighty younger brother, overprotective mothers, and nosey cousins. I thought this was a great book and a really fun read!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECOND CHANCE CHRISTMAS by Kristin Wallace: It is a heartwarming story of second chances and a secret baby. I loved the story and the characters were so endearing, so realistic. It was easy to relate to their feelings of anger, fear, betrayal and love. Mia Reynolds and Winthrop Barrington II met ten years ago and fell in love. There were people against them and their lies caused Mia to run away. Winthrop never knew what happened, all he knew was that Mia left town with her former boyfriend. Mia found out she was pregnant after she left Win. After her daughter Riley was born, Mia went back to her hometown of Palm Cove to tell Win that he was a father. But there were forces dead set against her and she was told outrageous lies that she believed. Ten years later, after a severe illness, Mia lost her job and her apartment. Her older sister Chloe told her to come home and live with her. When Mia arrived, her cousin Damon's fiancée Serena helped her get a job working with Winthrop Barrington II. Mia could not handle it. She thought that Win would automatically guess that Riley was his daughter because she had his eyes. As it turns out the lies and the betrayals came out into the open. Win wanted to meet Riley. He was incredibly thrilled and scared that he was now a dad. Riley was cautious with him. But by the end of their first meeting she accepted him. Win felt wonderful. Win wanted to face the people who told the lies and separated him from his daughter. Mia was so uncomfortable thinking about it. But they did it together. Riley and Mia ended up getting the respect and acceptance they needed and craved. Mia realized she never stopped loving Win and he pigheadedly discovered he was not over Mia and was still in love with her. This is a wonderful Christmas story and I highly recommend it. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The agony. Having to give one rating to a collection of 14 books is quite tricky. Some of the stories I adored; others were okay. So, here's the deal, I gave the whole collection a 4 because that was the average of all the books together. In the review, I give each book an individual score. Would I recommend buying? You betcha. The first two books alone are worth it.

By Christmas: Covington Falls Chronicles – Kristin Wallace -5

Love, love, love!! Seriously, this is worth buying the whole set. I love the plot, the conflict, the realness, and the details (oh the details). I laughed at the antics of the small town, the baby Jesus blowout, and the relationships between all the characters. Witty banter is a particular favorite of mine. This book delivers banter and more.
The beginning of the book was a little slow for me (take into consideration that I haven’t read the previous books in this series), but it only took a while for me to want to know what would happen in the characters’ lives. Be assured that I’m going back to read the beginning books of this series. What a lovely new author to follow.

The Christmas Promise – Melanie Curtis - 5

I loved this story. It has a unique locale and feel. The two main characters, ‘Snake Bait’ and ‘Tree-Hugger’ are fun, rich characters. They both have demons holding them back from being who they were meant to be. I love the secondary characters.
Just a heads up, I somehow missed that this was the first installment of The Bridesmaids sweet novella series. I was thinking how much I loved reading it and was entranced by the story when suddenly it ended. It’s great, but not complete.

Mistletoe in Maine – Ginny Baird - 4.5

A single mom takes her kids on vacation in Maine and meets a handsome innkeeper, a young widower with a teenage son. A winter wonderland love story about faith and new beginnings.
Warm, fuzzy reads are a particular favorite of mine. That’s not to say this story didn’t have conflicts, I just liked the way they were handled. The author does a nice job of fleshing out the characters for so short a work. You feel like you’re watching a snippet of their lives. I loved ‘Ashley’s moose’. I was pleased that I was surprised by some of the turns in the story. Overall, a good read.

Denise Devine - Merry Christmas Darling - 4

‘Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive’. A deal was made to benefit both parties who needed something only the other person could provide. She needed a vote; he needed a wife.
It was a fun story with some colorful characters. I adore that it reminded me of an old Rock Hudson/Doris Day film. Some of the antics were clever and right in step with that feel.

Donna Fasano – Almost Perfect Christmas - 4

This was a sweet, tender story about grief, love, understanding and going forward. I loved each of the characters in this book. They felt real and like someone I would like to know. I am taking one star off because although everything was behind closed doors, I wasn’t thrilled with the timing of it in the story.

The Army Doctor’s Christmas Baby – Helen Scott Taylor
I had previously read this book and didn’t get time to reread it for this review. I do have it marked as “really liked” on my kindle.

Stormy Times Beate Boeker - 4

Joanna gets lost in a blizzard on Long Island and the man who gives her shelter is very unfriendly. Sparks fly, and the night ends with a rescued puppy and a power failure, but this is only the beginning of her troubles.
Cute. The author’s addressing of fame and its pitfalls was well done. The interaction between the H and h was fresh and nice to read. Loved Dimitri the puppy.

Some Christmas Magic – Raine English-4

Harper Malone was dumped right before Christmas. Now what was she to do with her mountain getaway present intended for the Ex? A last-ditch effort to save her Christmas might result in her most romantic holiday ever.
This was a fun, light, beach read kind of story. The H is confident and patient. I liked the back story between the two main characters. I feel it’s hard to pull off a just broken up/find someone else and reach a HEA. The author did a nice job with this. The story was somewhat predictable, but fun none the less

A Scottish Christmas - Roxanne Rustand – 3.5

When Lucy Davis receives a mysterious letter inviting her to the Scottish Highlands to receive an inheritance, she expects to deal with it quickly— until she discovers it's a historic B& B with a handsome, mysterious resident who might just be the man of her dreams.
This is a nice, sweet, story to read around Christmas. Two lovely meddling widows to help the romance along, one handsome Scottish neighbor and a bit of a mystery are awaiting Lucy. I liked the story.

Small Town Christmas - Magdalena Scott – 3.5

Melissa’s back in town to raise her son and run her business. With his dad’s death, the work of the Christmas tree farm has fallen to Jim Standish. Melissa and Jim have a history from high school and she’s still plenty steamed about it. Her son ends up loving the Christmas tree farm – a place that Melissa has fond memories of. There’s romance, a bad guy and Christmas. What’s not to like. There was one turn in the story that I didn’t see coming – which was fun.

Christmas in White Oak – Aileen Fish – 3.5

Young widower Nick spends the holidays in his hometown at the request of his four-year-old daughter, forcing him to confront his past and the woman he let get away.
I’ve read and liked Aileen Fish’s work before and this story was no exception. It had characters with depth, interesting and fun sideline stories, and conflict from years past. The only disappointment was that for me this story ended much too abruptly. I came to the last page and wondered where the rest was.

Beach Christmas – Grace Green - 3
Jessie Dawson hopes to arrange the perfect beach Christmas for her family, but then it all falls apart creating time to reflect and learn more about herself and what’s important.
This story was more about family relationships and expectations. While I think it did a fine job portraying those, it didn’t keep my interest as well as other in this collection.

Mona Risk – Her Christmas Cruise
I was interested in the story; however I did not finish it. I would not consider it a PG-rated romance. After a bit too descriptive cheating scene near the very beginning of the book, I continued only to encounter too much language for my taste.

I was given a free copy of this collection for an honest review.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this set!! So far I have read 9 of the 14 and can't read fast enough. If you like sweet romances with a holiday theme then this set is for you. They have the hope, magic, love, and never-ending joy that comes from Christmas!

Book 1: An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano
Christy is a pediatric nurse. Aaron is a father with a dying daughter. She has one wish. To have a perfect Christmas just like she used to before her mom died. Christy volunteers to spend Christmas with them and help fulfill Izzie's last wish. What they don't know is that Izzie is playing matchmaker. Will they fulfill her very last wish? Very emotional read and one I really enjoyed.

Book 2: Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird
Carol is a divorced mom of 2 on a tight budget. But she splurges to spend Christmas in Maine.
Paul Love is a widower with his son going off to college. He is thinking about selling the lodge and moving. When his mom and her younger boyfriend show up with his first love Beth, he wonders what is going on. She left him for his best friend and married him. Then Carol shows up and he is drawn to her and her children. With an undeniable attraction between them, will they make a Love connection?

Book 3: The Army Doctor's Baby by Helen Scott Tayler
Kelly has been in love with her commanding officer for years. But he is married now with baby no.2 on the way. But he asked for a favor and she couldn't say no. Do a singing birthday telegram for Sean.
Sean is a widower with twin baby girls. When he sees Kelly he feels sparks that he hasn't felt in a long time. When he gives her a ride home that night, he hires her to watch over his girls while his nanny is gone. While there, they discover an attraction that is undeniable. It doesn't hurt that Kelly has fallen in love with his girls too. But would he still want her when he finds out she can't have children? Can she finally have her dream of a family with Sean? I really enjoyed this story.

Book 4:Stormy Times by Beate Boeker
Joanna is the town vet who loses her way in a winter storm. Winding up in the ditch, she abandons her Jeep and starts walking for the nearest house. She finally makes it just in time before she completely gives out.
Conran has come to the small town to get away from his celebrity life. Thinking Joanna is another fan he treats her pretty badly. When an abandoned puppy shows up, he need help with him. They continue to butt heads but their time together brings them closer. When his sister shows up, trouble is leaked and Conran blames Joanna. How could she do that if she really loved him. Can they work out their problems and have a Happy Christmas?

Book 5: The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis
Tiffany is in Ecuador trying to save her families bon-bon company. The quality of chocolate has dropped and she has to prove to her dad that she can bring their quality back up with the old homeland cocoa beans. But it is during a rainy season and she is having trouble getting them back to the nuns convent where she is staying. On the way she meets amputee Jackson. They speak for a few moments and go on their own ways. But Jackson has some problems with his prostetic leg and turns to find Tiffany. When he shows up at the convent he passes out and is hurt. The nuns won't let him stay unless the are united in a "poor man's marriage". Through his recovery, they find themselves falling for each other. But he must hike across the mountains in memory of his fallen buddy. Can their love last through the months he will be away?

Book 6: Merry Christmas Darling by Denise Devine
Rock is in a bind. He has told his mother he is married and has to find a stand-in wife. Kim is his neighbor from downstairs. She only agrees because she needs his vote to keep pets in the complex.
But fooling his mother and her nurse is harder than it seems. And her growing attraction for him is almost her undoing. When things start going wrong, will they come clean, or will the secret Kim finds out about his mother and her nurse be the undoing of everything? Rock has never been happier and he wants Kim forever, but can he convince her that he isn't the playboy she thinks he is?

Book 7: Some Christmas Magic by Raine English
Harper has been dumped and learned her surprise trip for him is non-refundable. Her best friend tells her to go with her brother. They have been friends forever, but the relationship has been strained. When Tony agrees to go with her, they go. But she never thought she would see her ex Jeffrey there. So Tony plays like they are dating. But Harper has always secretly loved him and he has always secretly loved her. Can these two come clean with each other and be happy once and for all?

Book 8: Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish
Nick is back home for a week with his 4 yr old daughter. Sofia is in charge this year of the Christmas play and working with her. Sofia has loved Nick forever. But when he got a girl pregnant in school, he married her and broke her heart. Nick really cared for Sofia but didn't want ruin the relationship. But as they spend time together, he sees how great they are together. Can they make it past all of the hurt and distance and make this a happy Christmas for all?

Book 9: Lucky Break Christmas Homecoming by Patricia Forsythe
Cecilia and Jim are getting a divorce. Or so they think. When the judge awards the house to their 2 kids, and them to share custody for 2 months, they don't now know what to think. So Jim moves into the maid's quarters. When someone from his past dies, he and Cecilia are named executors and must go back home to clear the house out. What Cecilia learns about Jim will chaqnge the way she thinks of her husband. When Jim finally comes clean about his family, the wall he has always had built will come crashing down. Can they save their marriage and stay a family forever?

[Dorel · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this set I enjoyed 3 books out of 14. THE ARMY DOCTOR'S BABY 👶: This is the 1st book I read by Helen Scott Taylor. This book's story line was cute. I liked Kelly's character. My heart broke 💔 for Kelly. I liked Sean's character. I thought the babies were adorable. I liked the ending. SOME CHRISTMAS 🎄 MAGIC: This is the 2nd book I read by Raine English. I liked this book's story line. I really liked Cole's character. I didn't like Harper's character. I thought Harper acted very childish. The ending was okay. HER CHRISTMAS 🎄 CRUISE: This the 3rd book I read by Mona Risk. I loved ❤ this book's story line. I ❤ Julia's character. I was happy & I felt story for Julia. I loved ❤ Tony's character. I didn't like Clyde, he got what he deserved. I loved ❤ the ending. I was glad to be introduced to Donna Fasano, Ginny Baird, Beate Boeker, Melinda Curtis, Kristin Wallace, Denise Devine, Aileen Fish 🐟, Patricia Forsythe, Grace Greene, Roxanne Rustand, & Magdalena Scott.

[Lokdyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only read a few of these stories so far, but judging by the ones I have read, I would recommend this group of Christmas romances to everyone. Below are reviews of the stories I’ve read.

The Army Doctor’s Christmas Baby by Helen Scott Taylor

Dr. Sean Fabian is a plastic surgeon in the Army and a widower with 1-year-old twin girls, Zoe and Annabelle. This very handsome and eligible doctor meets the very attractive Kelly Grace, a nurse who has recently gotten out of the Army, when Kelly comes to his birthday party dressed as a bunny and sings Happy Birthday to him. Sean has sworn off getting involved with anyone and Kelly has plans to go to Africa to work for a charitable organization, but all their plans go astray when Sean offers Kelly a job as his daughters’ nanny for three weeks and she accepts. Zoe and Annabelle are cute, adorable, lovable little girls. You can just picture the scene when Sean comes to the door holding Zoe in one arm while Annabelle sits on his foot with her arms and legs wrapped around his lower leg. In just a short time, Kelly falls in love with all three of them—Zoe, Annabelle, and Sean. However, she has a secret. Will it make a difference to Sean? Although they sleep together before marriage, there is no sex in this story. Needless to say, they get their happy ending, but see how it happens as they deal with Kelly’s secret.

A Scottish Christmas by Roxanne Rustand

Imagine being raised without knowing who your father is and believing you are the last of your family after your mother dies. That is Lucy Davis’ life until she received a letter from a solicitor in Scotland inviting her to come there for the inheritance left her by an aunt she never heard of. What a surprise to discover that she inherited a huge house that has been in her family for centuries, and is now a B&B. She finds Sorcha and Aileen, two elderly ladies who have lived there for 10 years, and Brodie MacLaughlin, a professor with a year’s lease on the adjacent cottage, and of course, Maxie, a small, fluffy white snowball of a dog. Lucy only planned on staying a couple weeks to take care of her aunt’s things and then head back to Chicago, but, as the story says, “Now she was apparently on the verge of booting elderly ladies out on the street and becoming branded as the second coming of the wicked witch of the west.” She had already met Brodie, but it wasn’t a pleasant encounter. With Brodie’s plan to help Lucy get everything settled so she could be gone quickly, he becomes her “right hand man.” Working together as Lucy learns the truth about her parents, she and Brodie grow closer by the day. See how they overcome a misunderstanding and find the life they should have together. I loved all the characters in this story, as well as the descriptions of the Scottish highlands, and I think you will too.

Small Town Christmas by Magdalena Scott

When Melanie “Mel” Singer left her hometown of Serendipity, Indiana, many years ago, she never planned to return. Why would she after being dumped by her boyfriend for another girl? But circumstances changed and so did her plans. Now’s she’s back in Serendipity with her wonderful 4-year-old son Matthew, has bought the Osbourne House (the only thing she said would get her back there), has her own real estate business in her home, and has reconnected with her best friends, Alice, Carla and Francie. A complication, though, is that Carla and Francie’s older brother is Jim Standish, Mel’s ex-boyfriend. It doesn’t take long for Mel to get involved with the Standish family again, helping out with their Christmas tree farm. Things are hard for the whole family since the dad, Harry, died that year. While Mel helps out, Lillian, the mom, watches Matthew for her. Matthew is a fantastic little boy. He brings joy and happiness into everyone’s lives. Mel has an idea to help the whole family deal with keeping the farm going. Read how Mel and Jim resolve both past issues and a new one neither of them realized they had. This was a great story of hope and second chances and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I especially liked the “little bit of magic” at the end of the story. Read it to see what I mean. This is book 1 in the Serendipity, Indiana Series. Based on this story, I think this is a series that will be well worth reading.

The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis

What a story! I have laughed so much from page 1. It starts with Tiffany “Tiff” Bonander, a chocolate heiress from New York, now in the Ecuadorian rainforest plodding along in her pink-flowered rain boots and pink rain slicker, pushing 30 pounds of cocoa beans in a wheelbarrow through the pouring down rain, which turns into a deluge. While trying not to get washed away in the flood, she walks and “talks” to herself. What “thoughts” she has! Of course, things get worse when she has to choose between a huge creature (a zombie?) and another huge creature that hisses (a snake?). Guess which one she chooses. Enter Jackson “Jax” Hardaway, trekking through the rainforest and having a flash back from Afghanistan while Tiff wants him to either run or kill the snake. Once the snake is gone, Tiff returns to the convent where she is staying with three elderly nuns (sort of little matchmakers). In poor shape, Jax turns back from his trek and goes to the convent as well. As a result, Tiff and Jax go through a “unido.” You’ll have to read the story to find out what it is. They work out what their goals are and their feelings for each other. This is book 1 of The Bridesmaid Series. Don’t miss it.

I was given a copy of these stories to read and give my honest opinion, which I have done, but I have also bought them for myself.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several of these short stories were really good, one I dnf- not my cup of tea, and the rest were your normal Hallmark romances.

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection not only puts you in the mood for Christmas, it's a fantastic deal! I would definitely recommend it! I read all 14 books and enjoyed them all. Each author had a different Christmas story to tell, which is why the whole collection doesn't get old! It starts out with a very emotional story by Donna Fasano called AN ALMOST PERFECT CHRISTMAS. It's about 8 year old, Izzie, who has cancer and her father asks for a nurse to come to his cabin for a weekend just so Izzie can experience a normal Christmas - perhaps for the last time. Christy volunteers because she doesn't have any plans and she's had a child die from cancer herself. It's a beautiful story of hope and dealing with illness and being positive during that time. I love Izzie and her sweet spirit. Christy and Aaron, the father, eventually bond over having children with cancer and it's very touching.

There's another story that takes place in Maine, called MISTLETOE IN MAINE by Ginny Baird. It's about Paul, who owns a resort and decides this will be his last Christmas before he will sell it. His son will be going off to college and he's tired of running the resort by himself. Enter Carol and her children. She's divorced and her ex "upgraded" for a young, pretty thing! He lives extravagantly but doesn't share the wealth so she's saving every penny. However, she makes the decision that her kids need a nice holiday away from all the stress so she takes them to Maine to Paul's resort. Carol's family has a wonderful time there and Paul & Carol are able to get together. I loved Paul's mother. She was so funny!

All the books were so good! It's hard to pick out some of my favorites! I also enjoyed The ARMY DOCTOR'S CHRISTMAS BABY by Helen Scott Taylor about a doctor and a nurse on an army base who get together. The doctor has darling twins. His wife had left him and then died after being unfaithful. He adores his twins but needs a babysitter for them over the holidays. The nurse was about to leave for Somolia to help out there but decides to help with the twins until she leaves. But she falls in love with the twins AND the doctor! So cute! Then, there is STORMY TIMES by Beate Boeker featuring Conran who is a celebrity and Joanna who is a veterinarian. Jo gets lost in a blizzard and ends up on Conran's doorstep almost frozen to death. Conran reluctantly helps her. They go through all kinds of things with him being a celebrity (he's hiding out) but eventually they work things out.

I also enjoyed CHRISTMAS CRUISE by Mona Risk. Tony is a doctor but is helping his mom out at a travel agency when he sees Julia outside the window. Julia is coming to pick up her honeymoon cruise tickets. Julia then finds out her fiancé is cheating on her but Tony convinces her to keep her cruise tickets and go anyway. Julia invites Tony along to keep her company because she's a fashion designer and has to be in Rome anyway. He books a separate room and they go as friends. They have a great time together. At the end, she finds out he's a doctor and thinks she lied to him but her brothers convince her he's a good guy. She thinks he might be like her ex-finace but then decides he's not.

Another fun book is A SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS by Roxanne Rustand. An American woman, Lucy, has to travel to Scotland to take care of the estate of her aunt who just died. That was the last of her family. She has always been confused about her family because her mom never told her anything. She find out everything in the house her aunt left her and is overwhelmed. Brodie is a guy that is staying on the property and is helping her. Lucy helps him with some issues he is having also. I really liked the visit to Scotland and learning some this about this country!

The last book was another fun one....it was called BY CHRISTMAS - COVINGTON FALLS CHRONICLES by Kristin Wallace. Noelle has to leave town - now! She was left at the altar 18 months ago by her "groom" and her best friend! No one in town will ever let her forget it and even 18 months later, people remind her every day! Michael, the "groom's" brother is her friend and he's going to help her with all the Christmas stuff she has to do because Noelle's father just had a heart attack and her father was "Mr. Christmas" in the town! Working together, Noelle and Michael suddenly realize they have feelings for each other but that comes as a shock because that would be so inconvenient considering who Michael's brother is! This was a fun book to read and a fun one to end the collection with!

There are so many other books I didn't comment on but they are worth reading too! Pick up the collection and immerse yourself in getting ready to enjoy the holiday season! So. Much. Fun.

[Bonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading a short story in a Sweet Christmas KIss Called The Christmas Gift by Raine English
I just fell in love with the adorable dogs Bodie (the cute male French bulldog) and Sable (the rambunctious boxer). Each of their owners Riley and Mason where adorable as well. A little back story you see Riley and Mason where both together in the past. But, unfortunately Riley had grown up faster than Mason. So, she (being honest to herself that their relationship was never going to turn into a marriage.) had to break her heart and leave Mason. I totally understood you can only wait for a relationship to progress, right? So, Riley breaks it off with Mason and moves away. To only have to move back a few years later. She ends up having to move back to the same town. Moving in with her sister Taylor. Taylor is so sweet and caring. Taylor sees something she wants to happen and she fights for it no matter what the cost.
I now must tell you about Mason. Mason wasn't ready for growing up for a very long time. But, when Riley moves back into town Mason has grown up and he has become a man. I would love for him to live in my town he enjoys taking care of dogs and helping with animal adoptions in his town. (I know how could you not fall in love with him?) He and Taylor have grown very close and they are so funny with there antics. I laughed so hard at how they worked together to get what they want.
I am never one to tell you the ending or what happens in a story but I will always tell you wither I would re-read or recommend a story and this sweet read is one I would indeed recommend. In fact it is one I could recommend to my young niece and I love that. With so much in this world that can tear you apart from pre-teens. Being able to read a story together and talk about it is something I love. Especially a heart warming Christmas story.

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas kisses

First book: Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano

Christy and Aaron met when his terminally ill daughter ask for a special Christmas that includes having a mom since her mom had passed away. This book is very good from the start, full of emotion, sadness and laughter. Haven't read any books by Donna Fasano before so now I will have to read more by her.

Second book: Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird

Carol goes to Maine for Christmas vacation with her two kids. Her husband had left her for a younger woman every years ago and doesn't have much to do with the kids. Paul the owner of the inn where they are staying lost his wife in a accident. This book is funny and is a very enjoyment read.

Third book: The Army doctor's Christmas baby by Helen Scott Taylor

Kelly is hired to do a birthday singing gram for Sean birthday. She ends up taking care of his twin baby girls during Christmas. Enjoyed the babies in the book and the medical part of the story also.

Four book: Stormy Times by Beate Boeker

Joanna is a vet, she had gone to take care of a sick animal and on the way back home got trapped in a snow storm which was the middle of the night. She ends up at Canran house in the middle of nowhere, he is a famous singer and he thought she was there as a fan but she did not know him. Also a lost dog comes to the door, since she is a vet they get to know each better due to the dog. I also enjoyed this story in this Box set, very good, only thing it ended too soon.

Fifth book : The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis

Tiff and Jax met in Ecuador , he saves her from a snake to start with and then she finds out he is hurt. She is staying at a place for nuns , takes him there and the nuns insist they get married but he doesn't really realize at first what happen. I liked this story because of how they meet in a unusual place, this is first in a series and I look forward to the next one.

Sixth book: Merry Christmas darling by Denise Devine

Rock was engaged but did not work out, his Mother is coming for a visit and gets Kim to pretend to be his wife. In the building there is a vote to keeps pets or not and his is the deciding vote, so she to do it. I enjoyed this book a lot, it is funny in parts and I love books that make me laugh.

Seventh book: Some Christmas Magic by Raine English

Harper engagement is off and she had trip plan for Christmas to Green Mountain Lodge. Since already paid for she agrees to take her best friend brother who she had a thing for years ago. They end up running into her ex there. Very interesting short read.

Eighth book: Christmas in white oak by Aileen Fish

Nick and Holly were friends when they were kids. Nick gets a girl pregnant in high school, they get married and she dies after having the baby so he ends up being a single father. This is the first book I have read by this author, enjoyed it.

Ninth book: lucky break christmas homecoming by Patricia Forsythe

Jim and Cecilia goes to court to get a divorce and the judge denies it. A good short story.

Tenth book: beach Christmas by Grace Greene

They are having a bad thanksgiving with different family members going other places, so Lila decides to have Christmas at the beach and still has problems getting everyone there but end up having a good Christmas anyway.

Eleventh book: her Christmas cruise by Mona Risk

Julia gets cruise tickets for her honeymoon but right after she gets them she finds her fiancé with another woman and break it off. Tony goes also, the one that helped her with the tickets. They fall in love on the cruise but she finds out he is keeping a secret from her.

Twelve book: a Scottish Christmas by Roxanne

Lucy goes to Scotland due to inheriting a house from her aunt. Once she get there she finds out all kinds of secrets. She also meets Brodie there and they get involved.

Thirteen book: Small town Christmas by Magdalena Scott

Set in town of Serendipity, Mel moves back there with her son. Friends have a Christmas tree farm trying to sell.

By Christmas by Kristen Wallace.

Review coming later on this one.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not usually a big fan of short stories but thought I would give these a try.

1. almost perfect Christmas
It was a good short story which was a bit sad at the same time. From the beginning you could guess the storyline but it was a nice story. It was missing something though and seemed to skip a big bit of the story and just give you a recap of what you missed. 2 stars.

2. mistletoe in maine.
I enjoyed this story more as the chemistry was more evident and the story flowed a bit better. it was a nice story and I especially liked the sleigh ride. 3 stars.

3. the army doctors Christmas baby.
A nice short story about girl trying to move on and falling in love. I especially loved reading about the twins. 2 stars.

4. Stormy times.
So far my favourite out of all the stories so far. About a vet and a celebrity as they fall in love with some different misunderstandings. I enjoyed reading their story. 4 stars.

5. the Christmas promise
I did not like this story. I found that it was a bit slow and did not really keep my interest. It then just ended, like there was more chapters that have been cut. it is the first installment in a series but do not feel tempted to continue into the series. 1/2 star.

6. Merry Christmas darling
I enjoyed this story, with a pretend relationship, an attraction and a scheming nurse it was a good story. Definitely one of my favourites in the book. 4 stars.

7. some Christmas magic
It was a cute second chance romance story. I liked the characters just wish it was longer so I could have got a chance to read more about the characters. 3 1/2 stars.

8. Christmas in white oak
I liked this story and how it was a second chance story. The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed to end when the relationship was just starting. 2 stars.

9. lucky break christmas: homecoming
This was a nice story about a couple at the point of a divorce who start to get to know each other. Reveling secrets they never shared, it was nice reading their story but struggled at times to stay hooked. 2 stars.

10. beach Christmas
A sweet story about Jess, who tries to get her family together for Christmas. However her brother cancels last minute, and feels alone as the only sibling who makes an effort to see her parents. With her neighbor, Drew and a few suprises in the mix it ends up being a good Christmas. A nice story. 3 1/2 stars.

11. her Christmas cruise
A good story, Julia call off her wedding after she discovers her fiance cheating. She then meets Tony and goes on the honeymoon cruise with him instead. It was an ok story but a bit unbelievable that she would go on a honeymoon cruise with a stranger if she was heartbroken. 1 1/2 stars.

12. a Scottish Christmas
My favourite story. Lucy receives a letter and money to go to Scotland town to receive an inheritance. She finds it is a B&B and plans to sell it, until she falls in love with the B&B, the ladies that run in and the quirky, handsome author who lives in the cabin next to the house. Definitely a good story. 4 1/2 stars.

13. small town Christmas
A nice story about a mum that wants to bring her son up in her home town. With nice Christmas traditons and a bit of love it was a sweet story. Unfortunately it did not keep my interest as much as the previous book. 2 stars.

14. by christmas: covington falls.
I loved this story, definitely one of my favourites in the book. Noelle has a hard time after her fiance runs off with her best friend on her wedding day. She then has to help run Christmas in Covington Falls when her dad becomes ill. With an attraction building with her ex fiance's brother. This is definitely an author I will be reading again. 5 stars.

On the whole it was a really good book with only a few stories that didn't keep my interest. Definitely some good Christmas short stories I will read again.

[Jo-Ann Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this one book had many different ones within it, it's hard to score.

Within the bundle you have the good (where you can't put the book down), the bad (where you go looking for more or the story all of a sudden ends) and the ugly (where you have to ask your self if continuing is really worth it. I'm glad I kept going as the last few books I didn't want to end and loved.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Almost Perfect Christmas
4 STARS
This is an "in one sitting" kind of read, and it pulled me right in. The most Christmassy thing about it for me was the search for lights on the boardwalk--loved picturing the house with all "vibrant blue lights"--and in the end, Izzie turned out to be the character who most impressed me. What a little cookie, that girl!

Some of the development was a bit awkward, like Christy's physical features not being described until around Chapter Four, even though she's the main character, and the way that Christy and Aaron seemed to be pretty instantly comfortable with familiar touching (though the book turned out to be shorter than I thought it'd be, so the speedy familiarity between those two may have been necessary.)

Overall, a moving Christmas story.

Mistletoe in Maine
4 STARS
Good Christmas comfort, like a mug of hot cocoa; moments of humor; nice subplot elements; and whispers of romance that develop smoothly in this novella. Oh, and I was most taken by the part with the moose, feeling a measure of awe as I pictured it--and that's saying something, since animals aren't usually my thing in books, unless it happens to be a book about animals, most likely a children's book.

The book cover is the steamiest thing about this clean romance; the image doesn't match the story's warm, familial atmosphere or what actually happens in the book. And there's a significant fast-forward at the close to tie up loose ends, since taking the reader through all of the details would've required pulling the story away from its Christmas theme.

All in all, though, it's a quick, feel-good read that provides a good dose of holiday cheer.

Merry Christmas, Darling
5 STARS
I hear tell that animals are a hot trend in book covers these days, and the tabby cat on this novella's cover is cute, but it doesn't do justice to the romantic comedy inside.

It's a light and amusing read with the right amount of backstory to give it substance, and indeed, I was reading nicely along when Merry Christmas, Darling went from simply substantive lightness and amusement to getting really interesting. I was shaken out of my pleasant lull of late night reading, suddenly wide awake so I could keep up with the story. I'll admit, I wasn't sure exactly how much each character knew about every other character when it was all said and done, but author Denise Devine certainly piled on the Christmas warmth, particularly at the end, and the read left me in the satisfied mood to deck a hall with a bough of holly. Bravo!
____________________
I received a complimentary copy of this collection from Sweet Romance Reads in exchange for an honest review.

[Dusti Dasilva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent this box set for a review. All the stories were so great. I found myself crying in everyone, which to me makes a great book. But since there are 14 books in this set I am only going to choose my 2 favorite ones to review, like I said they were all so good, but these were the 2 that stuck with me the most. So my first review goes to Almost Perfect Christmas. This book was so sad and so sweet that I found myself crying throughout the whole book. Aaron’s little girl has cancer and is dying. He knows she doesn’t have much time left and wants to make her last Christmas perfect. To do this though he has to enlist help with the nurses that helps take care of Izzie. Christy knows what its like to lose a child and wanting to make sure that their every wish is met, so she steps up to help play pretend family and pretend mom for Izzie for Christmas. What Aaron and Christy doesn’t know is that Izzie is playing them both and has many tricks up her sleeve to make sure her dad isn’t left alone after she is gone. This book is an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed and cried and laughed some more on top of crying.

My next review goes to By Christmas this book is a fun read. Noelle was left at the alter by her fiancé, who in turn ran away with the maid of honor. Noelle is ready to move on with her life but her small town will never see her more than that poor girl who was left behind. Michael Campbell, brother to Doug and ex-fiancé of Noelle, thinks its his life mission now to make sure Noelle has an easy life, one where she doesn’t get hurt again. Michael though has a secret and he blames himself for Noelle being left at the alter. So when Noelle’s father has a heart attack Michael is more than happy to stand up and help her out with the family business, what he and she didn’t count on was falling in love. Can they find their way together with both families against the relationship? And worse yet can they survive when Doug and new wife, the maid of honor, finally come back to town?

I loved this whole box series. Usually with a box set there is always one or two that I find myself hating, but these stories are all so great. I’m actually looking forward to having the set now to reread during the Christmas Holidays! So make sure you go out and get this set! You won’t be disappointed!

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't had a chance to read all of the stories yet, so I will review the ones I have finished already and I will add to my review as I finish additional stories in the collection.

Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano
This was a very emotional story. Christy is a nurse and she does a favor for Aaron whose daughter Izzie is dying of cancer. Izzie wanted one last family Christmas so she wanted her dad to find a pretend mom for her for the holiday. Christy agreed to help him give Izzie one last happy memory. Christy's daughter, Danielle, had died from cancer when she was six. Aaron and Christy bonded over their unfortunate shared pain. The story brought out quite the mix of emotions from sadness to happiness to loss and back to hope.

Stormy Times by Beate Boeker
I enjoyed this story. Conran was a great character and although I didn't like him at first, he grew on me much like he grew on Joanna. I loved her as well and I really liked her dedication to her animal patients and their owners. They were great together and I loved that unlike so many other romance novels, in this one the heroine didn't have to change or sacrifice herself to get her HEA.

The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis
Tiff is in Ecuador on a mission to saver her family’s chocolate business by working on cocoa trees on the family’s land. Jax is in Ecuador on a self-imposed mission and suffers from PTSD from his time at war in the Army. A flood and a snake intervene and the two meet. I loved Tiff’s resolve to try to prove herself to her family, and to herself and I loved Jax’s determination to continue on his trek. The three nuns were wonderful as well. I enjoyed how it ended – with an open ending leaving me the option of reading the next story in the series, or making up my own conclusion myself. (I will probably opt to do both).

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, 14 short stories for $0.99 is a great deal.

I'm not a frequent romance reader, and this year I've been focused on reading books that shows up on must-read list so buying this set wasn't really in my plan. However, after reading Pride and Prejudice, and reading a couple of serious works that are not happy to say the least, I wanted to read something light and happy. And well Christmas is coming up so I went to Amazon to see what's in store and found this set.

This set has some good stories, and some average/meh stories. But they're all stories you can tell right off the bat they'll end up with the perfect guy. It sometimes annoys me that the character always felt physically attracted to each other even when they're supposed to hate each other. (e.g. my ex broke my heart. I'm still sad. OMG his body, oh I shouldn't. But I felt this weird attraction like I've never felt.) I get that they're holiday stories and are supposed to be magical, just don't think it's normal to check a guy out when you hate them.

I also think the quality of the stories was high in the beginning, low in the middle, and got better again in the last few stories.

There's one big thing I want to point out though. I know these are not serious literature work, and most of these novellas are not published individually. That doesn't mean you don't proof read your work. I found numerous mistake ranging from spelling mistakes and typos, to the mix up of character's name. Some novellas have none, some have quite a lot. And sometimes characters are mentioned who aren't introduced before, leaving me super confused as to who these people are!

But for $0.99, you can overlook these problems and just enjoy some warm Christmas romance!